Columnists :: Guest Opinion
Thanks Sal DiMasi; Bob DeLeo, someone’s watching you by Sue O’Connell
co-publisherThursday Jan 29, 2009 When Senator Dianne Wilkerson resigned, I was tempted to compare her to Oskar Shindler -- an imperfect person who did a great good. I didn’t, but now faced with yet another exit of dubious distinction by a hero to the LGBT community I’m beginning to think Shindler may be the rule more than the exception.
I’ll leave others to examine the activities that have led to House Speaker Sal DiMasi’s resignation, but, once again, our community owes thanks to a lawmaker who has resigned under a cloud. Without DiMasi there would be no legal same-sex marriage in Massachusetts; the 1913 law that prevented non-resident same-sex couples from marrying in Massachusettes would likely still be on the books; and married same-sex couples in Massachusetts would still be treated unfairly by Medicaid. And those achievements encompass DiMasi’s leadership on LGBT issues in the last five years. In fact, his support for the community stretches back to the early ’80s, when he was among the few brave souls on Beacon Hill to speak out in favor of the gay civil rights bill.
DiMasi was singled out for his heroic efforts to preserve marriage equality in the 2006 and 2007 year-end issues of Bay Windows. He was the only person to make our list of "People who made a difference" two years in a row. In last year’s final issue, we again could not let him go unrecognized for his leadership in passing the bill to repeal the 1913 law, naming him as part of the "Axis of Equality," along with Gov. Deval Patrick and Senate President Therese Murray.
The story of his success (along with Patrick and Murray) in navigating the perilous political terrain of the constitutional conventions beginning in 2004 and culminating with the defeat of an anti-gay marriage amendment in June 2007 should be required reading at every political science school in the nation. Of the final, momentous vote, DiMasi later told Bay Windows, "I’ve never had a vote like that before in my whole career here. ... I had this great sense of relief, great sense of pride and satisfaction with what I was able to accomplish."
Our heroes are human. Their fight for our rights does not excuse or pardon their missteps or misdeeds but nor do their actions make them unworthy of our thanks and appreciation.
Thank you, Sal DiMasi.
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If State Representative Robert DeLeo had ascended to the role of House Speaker 5 years ago, the LGBT community would have been justifiably worried. The DeLeo of today, however, is an advocate for and ally to our community.
The transformation of DeLeo from opponent to friend is one that is not surprising to me. DeLeo had a very close relationship with my mother, the late Irene O’Connell. By close relationship what I mean is she would call his office and demand things for the residents of her elderly housing development (where she served as president of the activities committee) in Winthrop - things like a bus for a trip or food for a party. In return, she wouldn’t let him take any credit for it. My mother, an old school community activist, would laugh that DeLeo probably began their relationship thinking she was a nice old lady and by the time he wised up, he was so far committed to the cause that she had made a believer out him.
Such was their relationship that in 1999 Representative DeLeo visited my mother’s wake just moments after the doors opened. He ran in, paid his respects and said he had to leave immediately for fear that someone would see him there. Reading the confused looks on our faces, I recall him saying something along the lines of, "Your mother would think I was like other politicians, just coming to be seen. She was a great woman, but if I stay she’ll haunt me."
A few years later I was mildly surprised to see his name on the list of lawmakers opposed to same-sex marriage rights. I made just one call during the con con and that was to DeLeo. I left a message that my mother was still watching him.
Since I am my mother’s daughter, I’ll put Speaker DeLeo on notice that we expect his support for our community to be unwavering whether in the face of economic or social crisis as we look optimistically forward to new leadership.
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